Dell Rapids cruised into Region 3A championship contention with a 22-point win over Flandreau Friday at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls.

Coming off a first-round bye, the Quarriers charged out of the gate with high intensity.

“I knew our players would come out with a lot of energy,” said Jason Fersdahl, Dell Rapids head coach. “This tremendous energy lifted us on the defensive end of the floor as our guys were flying around and crashing the boards hard.”

But a two-week stretch without a game leading into regions showed when Dell Rapids struggled shooting in the first half.

“We rushed some shots and didn't shoot very well at all in the first half,” Fersdahl said.
In the third quarter, the Quarriers first-half troubles were an afterthought when the transition offense opened up against Flandreau and Dell Rapids went on a 28-19 scoring run.

The Quarriers shot 45 percent from the field and made 17 of 22 free throw attempts.

Dell Rapids sophomore Ty Hoglund scored 22 points and grabbed three steals. Cody Nielsen had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Quarriers, and Zane Schumaker had eight points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Dell Rapids (14-7) played Madison in the Region 3A finals at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Elmen Center.